There are endless opportunities for improvement in our sector, but we will call out three where we, in partnership with our clients, can make a significant impact through 2026:

Payers/Health Plans: By leading with data and advanced analytics, we see an opportunity to make major advancements in the provider-payer relationship with the shared goal of improving quality, safety and access. While the general public often perceive large commercial payers and providers as adversaries focused on the bottom line, ECG is encouraged by growing collaboration and innovation from these players, including major commercial payers and provider-sponsored health plans. With rising consumerism and AI-enabled access to information, we expect major advancements in this space beginning in 2026.
Physicians/Health Care Professionals: Health care delivery depends on physicians and other health care professionals, yet media coverage often overlooks them. ECG is proud of our clients who have embraced physicians as true partners and leaders, but many have not. With burnout lingering from COVID and a looming shortage of specialists within the next 7 to 10 years, highlight the need for greater focus on physician organization, recruitment, retention and engagement. We see a clear correlation between engagement and performance/outcomes.
AI: While AI is on every industry’s radar, health care is consistently identified as one of the sectors where its impact will be most profound (e.g., imaging). We are proud to be associated with Siemens Healthineers and witness the advanced technologies they are bringing to the market that will transform health care. In consulting, AI can increase efficiency, reduce costs and enable client-facing, tech-driven tools that replace some traditional engagements. Consultants come and go, but this new wave of platforms will help our clients drive change from within and have a greater impact on patient engagement by 2026 and over time, modernize the business model of health systems.

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